How is String in Java an immutable object, but I can still change its value after creating one? [duplicate]

Question

How can this be if I can create a String, giving it a value. Then, I can simply overwrite its value like this:

String a="abc";
a="def";

How is it possible that I can change the value of a? I must be missing something here. I understand that Strings literals are used whenever creating a String object, rather than creating a new instance of String every time

Please help, thanks.

Answer 1

Your not changing its value you are creating a new String. Technically your variable changes its value (memory location its pointing to) to reference a new String object but it is pointing to the new String object not the same String object.

You aren't actually changing the value of the original String object you are just referencing a new String so while the value of your variable does change you aren't actually changing the original String object...Hope that makes sense.